Carlos Alcaraz will be pleased to see the back of a disappointing North American hardcourt swing after a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 loss in his opening match at the Miami Masters to David Goffin.

The Spaniard who would be expected to thrive in the Latin tennis hotbed, was unable to escape his opening match as the world No. 3 went down to his veteran Belgian opponent.

The 2022 champion could not capitalise on his early lead as he went down in Goffin’s comeback charge.

While he will stay third in the world behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz heads to the more welcoming clay of Barcelona next month with confidence dented, earning just one title (Rotterdam) and one semi-final (Indian Wells, loss to Jack Draper) so far this season.

The 34-year-old Goffin gave away 13 years to Alcaraz in their second-round matchup as he doubled down on his upset of the youngster three years ago in Astana.

“Sometimes some matches are tough and you have to fight, like the first round, and you’re happy to have a second round like that in a stadium,” the winner said.

“That’s why I continue to play tennis, to have that kind of match in a stadium, to play some good tennis.

“Physically I was ready to fight and I was feeling the ball really well. It’s the kind of night that you feel great and you’re happy to fight, you enjoy every point,” he said.

Alcaraz suffered his first loss this season to an opponent ranked outside the top 30.

Goffin broke early in all three sets in his turnaround effort under the Florida lights and was helped by 43 unforced errors from former No. 1 Alcaraz.

Alcaraz was left with no excuse in defeat.

“It was a poor level from me, I just wanted to play better. After the first set, I thought I was going to be better. 

“He played good tennis and my level didn’t increase.”

He added: “Physically I did not feel well in my legs. When you don’t have the confidence of your level physically, I think it’s really tough to maintain good tennis.

“But I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t sick. I was feeling perfectly before the match. I was a bit nervous, but nothing more than that.”

Main photo:- David Goffincelebrates shock win in Miami – by Pete Staples/ATPTour.com

Holger Rune delivered an ace on match point Thursday to complete a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 fightback which put the Dane into the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.

Rune fought his way back against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who has been on form over the past month, with a Dubai semi-final and a stunner here over top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round last week.

Rune, whose best showing in the Californian desert was a 2024 quarter-final, recovered with poise after losing an hour-long opening set featuring five breaks of serve.

The Dane will be playing his sixth semi at the Masters level after defeating Griekspoor for the first time in their three meetings.

The world No. 13 is the second from his country this century (Robin Haase, 2017 Montreal) to reach the final four at the elite level and second here behind Paul Haarhuis in 1996.

The match was interrupted twice in the opening set by rare spots of rain before both players were able to get on with the quarter-final job.

Griekspoor went away on the second set as Rune Levelled and the Danish seed continued his momentum in the third, with a concluding break in the fourth game enough to make the winning difference.

Rune became a teenaged Masters titleholder three years ago at Paris Bercy but has struggled this season after an Australian Open fourth round, with poor showings at events in Rotterdam, Buenos Aires and Acapulco.

Main photo:-Holger Rune into Indian Wells Semis – by ISF Ltd

Czech Jiri Lehecka brought an end to the current win streak of Carlos Alcaraz with a 6-3,, 3-6, 6-4 upset wn to move into the ATP Doha finals on Thursday.

World No. 3 Alcaraz had not lost his previous seven matches after lifting this month’s Rotterdam title.

But Czech Lehecka paid no attention to his opponent’s recent success, reach the final four here for a second time with a fightback from 2-4 down in the deciding set. 

He will bid for the final against the winner from Matteo Berrettini or Brit Jack Draper.

“I will try to recover well and get back on the right track in the morning to build the right things again,” Lehecka said looking ahead,” Lehecka said. .

“I am confident I can bring even more tomorrow and I will try my best.”

Lehecka out-aced Alcaraz eight to seven,breaking four times in a win lasting for nearly two and a quarter hours.

“For me to win a match like that against a player like this is a super big achievement,” the winner said.

“I believed in myself and knew I had the level to produce this kind of tennis.

“The most important part was I believed in my game and did not back down, I tried to be an aggressive player and push him to his limits.”

Main photo:- Jiri Lehecka beating Carlos Alcaraz in Doha by Qatar Tennis